Adjustable Concrete Form

ABSTRACT

An adjustable form having at least two elongated form parts which are capable of being attachable to each other in an adjustable manner relative to each other. A kit for an adjustable form having a package for containing at least two elongated form parts which are either or both adapted for or capable of being attachable to each other in an adjustable manner. A method for use of a form unit including assembling a form unit; disposing the form unit in the creation of an overall structure form for the creation of the ultimate structure; creating the ultimate structure.

BACKGROUND

The present development or developments relate generally to a form usedin the construction industry for the pouring and forming of concrete,but more particularly to re-usable, adjustable forms.

In the laying of various types of tile or like building materials forconstruction or re-modeling it is often desirable for the operator tohave the use of a set of forms which he can use to create a desiredconcrete formation of a desired height, width and length. A typicalformation may include a curb for water retention, as for example in aconstruction of a shower. Concrete formation construction projects varyin size as a consequence of the particular project. Forms are generallymade using dimensional lumber purchased specifically to accommodate aspecific formation dimension. The lumber then is further cut to meet thedesired finish concrete formation size, height, width and length. Afterthe concrete for the formation is poured and time is allowed for theconcrete to set, the forms are removed. The use of wood forms allows forone to cut them to fit each formation, but in such usages, the forms arevirtually useless in future applications. All projects are necessarilyof varying dimension and the stockpiling of various “used forms” is notreasonable. The dissipation of the water from the cement mix into thewood form also has a negative effect on the wood. Such water influxcauses the wood to warp and twist. Once the securing devices arereleased the wood assumes a varied shape due to water absorption.

Thus it can be found desirable to achieve a form which can beadjusted/modified to appropriate alternative dimensions and then re-usedover and over; as well as to alternatively or additionally, optionallyachieve a form which may be resistant to water and will have noresulting ill effects due to exposure to water.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed here is at least an adjustable form having two elongated formparts which are capable of being attachable to each other in anadjustable manner.

These and still further aspects as shall hereinafter appear are readilyfulfilled by the present developments in one or more remarkable and/orunexpected manners as will be readily discerned from the followingdetailed description of exemplary implementations thereof especiallywhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likeparts bear like numerals throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an adjustable form hereof shown inretracted disposition;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an adjustable form hereof shown in retracteddisposition;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an adjustable form hereof shown inextended disposition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an adjustable form hereof shown in extendeddisposition;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of two adjustable forms hereof shown in analternative partially extended operational disposition;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of portions of two adjustable forms hereofshown in an alternative operational disposition;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of two adjustable forms hereof shown in analternative operational disposition;

FIG. 8 is another isometric view of two adjustable forms hereof shown inan alternative operational disposition;

FIG. 9 is yet another isometric view of two adjustable forms hereofshown in an alternative connected operational disposition;

FIG. 10 is still another isometric view of adjustable forms hereof shownin an alternative connected operational disposition;

FIG. 11 is still yet one further isometric view of adjustable formshereof shown in an alternative connected operational disposition; and,

FIG. 12 is an optional methodology hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following here read together with and in view of the attached drawingsare descriptions of one or more forms according to the developmentshereof.

In a first set of examples, FIGS. 1-4 provide alternative views of anassembled, or partially assembled, adjustable form unit 10 hereof. Thecombination form unit 10 may generally have two elongated form parts, 11and 12, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, which may be adapted to or capable ofbeing slideably moveable relative to and attachable to each other to bedisposed in a substantial retracted or closed disposition as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, or in a relatively extended or open disposition as shownfor example in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 1 and 3 also show various boltholes, here e.g., holes 13 (specific examples, 13 a and 13 b in part 11in FIGS. 1 and 4), and a slot 14 in form part 12, that can be used tosecure the unit together once the desired length is established as oneor more connective devices such as bolts (not shown in FIGS. 1-4) willsecure the two parts together anywhere along the line of the slot,and/or if multiple bolt holes are provided, the bolts might be able tomove to different bolt holes as the form is adjusted out or in. Note,any alternative combination of either or both slots and/or bolt holesmay be used (as for example where each of parts 11 and 12 have boltholes, or each have slots, or alternative slots and/or holes may beused). Further alternative/optional bolt or screw holes 15 and 16(specific examples in FIGS. 1 and 3 of holes 15 a, 15 b and 15 c in part11 and 16 a, 16 b and 16 c in part 12; noting that it may be preferredto have different sized and positioned holes for different purposes, asfor example and as further described below, in connecting multiple formsto use bolts and bolt holes, which in FIGS. 1 and 3 may be indicated bythe larger center holes 15 a and 16 a, as opposed to what may bepreferred as screw/wall connection holes 15 b, 15 c and 16 b, 16 c) arealso shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 as these might be used for a variety ofpurposes, e.g., to add or connect to additional forms (described below)and/or to anchor the form to a substrate or support structure such as awall.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, each of the parts 11 and 12 has a respectiveelevational wall portion 21, 22 for forming the concrete by beingdisposed adjacent thereto; as well as respective base or foot portions23, 24 which any many cases can be used to hold the wall portions inupright or substantial upright operational position. The base of oneform, here, base 23 of part 11, may be partial or reduced in scope so asto allow for a relative marrying of the respective bases into acontinuous base in full closed form, thus creating a relative continuousbase in this disposition. In the open alternative, a relative space willbe opened between these foot portions 23 and 24 as shown in FIGS. 3 and4. Some optional bolt or screw holes 25 and 26 (specific examples 26 a,26 b and 26 c) are also shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 for, inter alia,anchoring these forms to a floor or other support structure.

One or more form units 10 in assembled, partially-assembled, ordisassembled form; particularly, two or more of the above-describedelongated parts 11 and 12, or the like, may be provided in or as apartially assembled, or pre-disassembled kit of parts capable of beingassembled as described and/or as shown herein. In one suchimplementation, a package (not separately shown, but readilyappreciable), as for example, a box or a bag, may be provided toaccommodate and hold the various parts included in or as part of thekit. In some such, the first and second elongated parts 11 and 12 may beincluded in and define the kit. In some further alternatives, one, twoor more connective devices, bolts and/or screws or other attachmentdevices may be included within the package and be part of the kit to beused in assembling the elongated parts relative to each other to holdthe parts 11 and 12 together and/or to anchor the parts 11 and/or 12 toa support structure, a floor and/or a wall. Other alternativeimplementations may further include, one, two or more angle brackets foranchoring purposes and/or for connecting elongated form parts together,as will be described further below. Instructions for use and/or assemblymay be included.

Thus disclosed here are one or more alternative adjustable concreteforms 10, particularly which can be retracted or extended to fit and/orcreate a desired formation. Such a form in these picturedimplementations has anchor points on two planes for securing to floorsand/or walls during the cement curing process. A complete form mightinclude two sub-parts 11 and 12 as one unit 10, or in someimplementations, may be considered to include two of these sets, such ascooperative sets 10 a and 10 b as shown in FIG. 5 thus, including foursub-part forms 11 a, lib, 12 a and 12 b; two each are alike and adaptedto be bolted together to the other respective operative forms to createa two-part “set”.

More specifically what is shown in FIG. 5, for an operational example,is a front adjustable form 10 a of parts 11 a and 12 a in partiallyextended disposition connected to and between two walls 31, 32 in adoorway generally designated as 30. Connection devices, screws or bolts27, 28 are shown as these might effectuate the connection of theelongated parts to each other, see elongated part connection bolts 27(with wingnuts here) and/or to external supports such as the walls 31,32, here, through use of wood screws 28, e.g. Also shown is a back form10 b with parts 11 b and 12 b thereof shown also connected to walls 31and 32 (bolts or other connections not directly shown). Shown formedbetween forms 10 a and 10 b is a concrete formation 40, here a curb orlike structure. A feature hereof may include the readily cognizableability to form such a structure 40 regardless the distance betweenwalls. Indeed, in some implementations, two or more front forms could behooked together (as by connecting the right side bolt holes 16 of oneform; see FIG. 3, with the left side bolt holes 15 of another form; leftand right only for descriptive purposes here relative to FIG. 3; notintending or requiring any limitation on orientation, operationally orotherwise; noting again, it may be preferred in connecting multipleforms to use bolts and bolt holes, which in FIGS. 1 and 3 may beindicated by the larger center holes 15 a and 16 a, as opposed to whatmay be preferred as screw/wall connection holes 15 b, 15 c and 16 b, 16c). Also shown in phantom in FIG. 5 are two other alternative/optionalangle members 45 (here, 45 a and 45 b) which can be used for alternativeconnection or anchoring; as will be described in further detail relativeto FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, below.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 provide alternative views of an implementation notunlike that of FIG. 5 particularly providing the optional ability of theuse of, e.g., a 90 degree angle bracket 45 or the like; wherein anangular bracket or flange 45 is shown in a little more detail as itmight be used to connect or anchor the form 10 b to or adjacent thesubstantially perpendicular facing wall 34 (other relative angles, otherthan mere perpendicular or thereabout may also be used). This is analternative optional connection or anchoring method, or mechanism whenthe wall for connection is facing as opposed to the substantiallyco-planar type of connection shown for more frontal elongated part 10 ato wall 32 (also as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8). As another example, areverse view of this is shown in FIG. 7. More specifically, flange 45 isshown adjacent and/or abutting form 10 b and at a substantial rightangle thereto, and connected by one, two or more screws 29 to wall 34.Note, it may be preferred to have no actual connection devices (heredesignated in FIG. 7 by the absence elements 28 a) actually connectingflange 45 with form 10 b because any device run through the holes at 28a (shown in dashed lines as these might be optional or might merelyreflect the holes in the structure 10 b as hidden by flange 45) wouldunfortunately be disposed in the concrete structure as it is formed andset, at least partially, and thus, likely be dis-favored—though such aconnection could nevertheless be achieved in some implementations. Evenso, the abutting relationship shown here can/should provide sufficientsupport to maintain form 10 b in desired operation position as indicatedin FIGS. 6-8. Thus, flange 45 shows an alternative connection oranchoring for a form 10 in an operative disposition, generally. FIG. 8shows yet one other alternative view of this, wherein two of the bolts29 are shown in phantom as they might be disposed within the wall 34.

Next, more specifically shown in FIG. 9 is yet another alternativeconnection of two parts 11 and 12. Here shown is an angle bracket orflange 46 shown connecting respective members 11 and 12 in anapproximate right angle (plus or minus 90 degree angle, in this example,other angles possible within the scope hereof, see below) for one ofunlimited options of likely positioning of bolt or screw holes for theaddition of another curb form. Thumbscrews or wing nut bolts 47, 48 areshown here making this connection, as they might be used for any of theother connections of members or parts herein; however, other connectionmechanisms or devices could alternatively be used here, as with otherparts hereof. Though not intended to be limited or requiring thefollowing, the holes shown for wall anchoring are shown in FIGS. 1-4smaller for appropriate wall screws, e.g., holes 15 b, 15 c, 16 b, and16 c in FIGS. 1 and 3, and bolts for larger holes 15 a and 16 a of FIGS.1 and 3 for this FIG. 9 connection.

FIG. 10 provides an enlarged view of an implementation not unlike thatof FIG. 9 particularly using a ninety (90) degree angle bracket 46 alike bracket 46 of FIG. 9 (bolted connections 47 and 48 are also shown).Bracket 46 a is shown in FIG. 10 connecting two form units 10 a and 10 cto provide the front side form for a ninety degree form creation for themaking of a ninety degree structure 40 a. A backside ninety degree formis also shown in FIG. 10 created by the connection of two forms 10 b and10 d by a bracket 46 b (shown in partial and in phantom).

FIG. 11 provides a further alternative implementation not unlike that ofFIG. 10 here particularly providing the optional ability of the use of,e.g., one or more substantially 45 degree angle bracket(s) or the liketo adapt to change of structure/curb angle if so desired; wherein anangular bracket or flange 49, here shown with two discrete flanges 49 a,49 b connecting three discrete forms 10 a, 10 b and 10 c to create thefront form for structure 40 c of FIG. 11. Backside units 10 d, 10 e and10 f are also shown in FIG. 11; which backside form units might alsoutilize similar substantial forty five (45) degree or like anglebrackets for their connections.

FIG. 12 provides a general method 50 which could be used herewith. Anoptional first step or operation 51 might be to assemble a form unit,e.g., a unit 10 (any of units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e, 10 f, etc.),with respective second and third steps or operations 52 and 53 ofdisposing the form unit 10 in the creation of an overall structure 40form for and then the creation/creating of the ultimate structure 40.The first operation 51 might be optional if the unit 10 might have comepre-assembled; optionality here indicated by the dashed arrow line frombox 51 to box 52. The assembly operation may include the operation ofsizing, sliding and/or connecting and/or bolting the elongated parts 11and 12 together to form unit 10 of a desired size. Optional removal andre-use steps or operations 54 and 55 are also shown as these might comeafter the creation of a structure 40. Re-use may be or may includeand/or come before either or both or either of the assembly ordisposition operations 51 and/or 52; i.e., re-use may in some instancesrequire some re-assembly, as for example, re-sizing, and/or connectionto other units 10; or in some other instances no re-assembly might benecessary whatsoever, and the unit put right into a subsequentre-disposition for creation of a new structure, i.e., moving directly tooperation 52 without moving through operation 51.

The present developments relate generally to forms used in theconstruction industry for the pouring of concrete, but in moreparticular implementations can be related to the type of work involvingthe pouring of concrete shower pans for shower installations and therelated curbs made to retain water as the shower is used. In the layingof various types of tile or like building materials for construction orre-modeling is desirable for the operator to have the use of a set offorms which he can use to create the desired curb width and length. Tileprojects all vary in size of the shower enclosure. An adjustable curb“unit” or form can for such shower type implementation be about 5″ highand have a base width of approximately 1.5″. A unit hereof for such usescan be provided for and adapted for adjustment from 36″ out to a fullextension to 60″. An alternative might be an approximate 24″ aluminumcurb unit, particularly as it may be adjusted from about 24″ out toabout 38″. A further alternative might be an approximate 18″ unitadjustable between about 18″ and about 30″. All considerations listedprior for a 36″ adjustable curb form unit would then generally be alsoapplicable for the 24″ unit and the 18″ unit. The base of one form wouldbe partially removed to marry into a full length form, thus creating acontinuous base. The bolts will be able to move to different bolt holesas the form is adjusted out or in. The use of three types of “brackets”for the use of anchoring the curb form units, as described above, mayinclude a use of 4″ bracket or the like in this curb form implementationfor the right angle connection, and one or more 12″ brackets or thelike, size/shape that can be interchangeable as the circumstancesdictate or as the operator chooses their use.

Thus herein provided can be a form which can be adjusted/ modified toany/every shower pan dimension or opening and then re-used over andover. A form which is resistant to water and will have no resulting illeffects due to exposure to water may also be a result. In manyimplementations, a light weight metal such as aluminum may be used forthe curb form.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that new and usefulimplementations of the present developments have been herein describedand illustrated which fulfill numerous desiderata in remarkablyunexpected fashions. It is, of course, understood that suchmodifications, alterations and adaptations as may readily occur to theartisan confronted with this disclosure are intended within the spiritof this disclosure which is limited only by the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable form comprising: two elongated formparts which are capable of being attachable to each other in anadjustable manner relative to each other.
 2. An adjustable formaccording to claim 1, the two elongated form parts being adapted to orcapable of being slideably moveable relative to and attachable to eachother to provide the adjustable manner.
 3. An adjustable form accordingto claim 1, each of the two elongated form parts having respectiveopenings to provide for connection of the parts together.
 4. Anadjustable form according to claim 1, at least one of the two elongatedform parts having a slot disposed therein to provide for connection ofthe parts together.
 5. An adjustable form according to claim 1, at leastone of the two elongated form parts having a plurality of bolt holesdisposed therein to provide for connection of the parts together.
 6. Anadjustable form according to claim 1, at least one of the two elongatedform parts having a slot disposed therein and the other one of the twoelongated form parts having a plurality of bolt holes disposed thereinto provide for connection of the parts together.
 7. An adjustable formaccording to claim 6, wherein the slot disposed in a first elongatedpart and the plurality of bolt holes disposed in the second of theelongated parts coact to provide for connection of the parts together.8. An adjustable form according to claim 1 further comprising one ormore bolt or screw holes to one or both of connect to additional formsand anchor the form to a substrate, or support structure, or wall orfloor.
 9. An adjustable form according to claim 1, the two elongatedform parts each having a respective elevational wall portion for formingthe concrete by being disposed adjacent thereto in operationaldisposition; as well as each of the respective elongated form partshaving respective base or foot portions which can be used to hold therespective wall portions in operational disposition.
 10. An adjustableform according to claim 9, the base of one form having a partial orreduced area so as to allow for a relative marrying of the respectivebases into a continuous base in full closed form, thus creating arelative continuous base in this disposition, and, a relative spaceopened between these foot portions in the open disposition.
 11. Anadjustable form according to claim 1, further comprising one or more of:connection devices, bolts and screws for one or both of holding theelongated parts in operative disposition relative to each other and inanchored position relative to a substrate, support structure, floor orwall.
 12. An adjustable form according to claim 1, further comprisingone or more angle brackets for one or both of holding the elongatedparts in operative disposition, connecting two or more elongated partsin angular disposition relative to each other, and in anchored positionrelative to a substrate, support structure, floor or wall.
 13. A kit foran adjustable form comprising: a package for containing; two elongatedform parts which are either or both adapted for or capable of beingattachable to each other in an adjustable manner.
 14. A kit for anadjustable form according to claim 13, comprising three or moreelongated form parts which are either or both adapted for or capable ofbeing attachable to each other in an adjustable manner.
 15. A kit for anadjustable form according to claim 13, the two elongated form partsbeing adapted to or capable of being slideably moveable relative to andattachable to each other to provide the adjustable manner.
 16. A kit foran adjustable form according to claim 13, the base of one form having apartial or reduced area so as to allow for a relative marrying of therespective bases into a continuous base in full closed form, thuscreating a relative continuous base in this disposition, and, a relativespace opened between these foot portions in the open disposition.
 17. Akit for an adjustable form according to claim 13, further comprising oneor more of: connection devices, bolts and screws for one or both ofholding the elongated parts in operative disposition relative to eachother connected via respective holes with the respective elongated partsand in anchored position relative to a substrate, support structure,floor or wall.
 18. A kit for an adjustable form according to claim 13,further comprising one or more angle brackets for one or both of holdingthe elongated parts in operative disposition, connecting two or moreelongated parts in angular disposition relative to each other, and inanchored position relative to a substrate, support structure, floor orwall.
 19. A method for use of a form unit comprising: assembling a formunit; disposing the form unit in the creation of an overall structureform for the creation of the ultimate structure; creating the ultimatestructure.
 20. A method according to claim 19 further including one orboth of: removing the form unit after the creation of a structure; and,re-using the form unit before either or both or either of the assemblyor disposition operations.